News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-04-07
The Master Blacksmith.
BY JOHN n. DICKIE.

You would never have imagined i
from the turn of his lips. They were .
very ordinary pair indeed when in re
pose, which, to tell the exact truth, wa.
not often; but this morning they were
puckered up In the most comical man
ner, wr1nkling his ruddy cheeks anG
giving his whole physiOgnomy distort
ed and distressed appearance painful tc
Dehold. But he was an excellent whist
4er. Of that there was not the smallest
doubt. Clear, resonant, trilling up and
down the may labyrinths of two octaves
with never false note; his hands in his
pockets, his tattered straw hat thrown
pack on his curly head, his sturdy
Ieet, brown and bare, kicking lit
tie clouds of dust in the road which
wound along the base of a stony hill
side almost at white heat beneath the
rays of the MONDAY sun.
Suddenly the music ceased. Evi-
IDENTIFY our musician had whistled him
sell out OF brown study into some sort
OF decision, for he stopped, picked up
pehole, and tossed it over the fence
with jerk.
''Yes, I'll do it. I don't like it, but
she'll never find it out. Tn pretty near
Wore out thinkin' fore and thinkin' agin'
ana heavln' first one side and then
tother. But it's over with at last, and
amt glad of it, thoughi''
With qIiclseIleeI footsteps he nov.
turned To the right and assembled the I
hill, entering a small cottage surround |
ed by a well kept lawn, bordered by a
choice collection of annual towering
plants, now IN the heighth of their
beauty.
''Well, mother, to q slender pale
need woman who stood at an ironing
table-''I'ye decided. It's all right.
Gadford's got me. Thought it all over,
Just as you said. I'll begin with him
tomorrow if he says SO"
You're sure now, my son-very sure
ats your own will and choicel" replied
his mother, anxiously.
Dead sure, returned the lad, stoutly.
''Of course a blacksmith's apprentice
can't put on so many high-toned airs as
if he was studyin' medicine but that
amt anything, you know-is it?"
Have you ever put on any airs, Jerry,
or have you ever desired tor" answered
the good woman, laughing.
''No, no, of course nOt"-a little i'm
patiently. ''But in the eyes of other
folks, you know, Doctor Altman would
would sound more dignifed-ike than
Jerry Altman, blacksmith wouldn't it,
now2"
1.-The trade your father followed, and
the reputation he earned as a good
workman and an honest man." retr1rnedJ
the widow with sparkling eyes, ''sound- |
ed as well in the ears of this community |
as that of DIR. Fields, who has so kindly |
offered to take you In his office. You
might make an excellent physician
that remains to be proven; but as a |
blacksmith you are sure of success from |
the start"
"Oh, yes, any one can learn that
trade, retorted jerry, a little bitterly, |
so much so he strove to disguise the tone /
with feeble whistle.
''By no means, " returned Mrs. Altman.
quickly. "Master blacksmiths are rare.
To shoe a horse well is in itself an art.
Why not begin with the determination
of becoming an artist in iron? You
inherit your fathers talents. Don't be
ashamed of them. Remember, my son,
you need not, if you will not, remain
chained to the forge for life"
Jerry sprang to his feet with shining
face and tossed his hat across the room.
'God bless you for saying that mother
Ii | am man enough to make the chain
can cut the links when / want to, can't
L HuTTah hurrah GadfOrd forever
BlaketOn was q small village nesting
among the hills in the southern part of
Ohio.
Among the many institutions of this
village, which gave it name and fame
the county, was long, low,
structure, black with the smoke
Of fifty years. Here the fires in two
forges were constantly ablaze, and the !
merry music of hammer and anvil could /
be heard at all seasons OF the year, re- ,
5ardless alike of wind and weather. y
The presiding spirit of this establish !
nent was an eccentric, middle-aged |
nan, with tongue ever wagging over |
he small gossip of the neighborhood, I
which he benevolently dispensed to the 9
group Of idlers who seldom failed to !
give him more or less of an audience. I
This fact being recognized, some un- =
Known party had dubbed the shop o
'Gadford's Harbor" n name il had !;
held and honored for many years.
1t was cold, frosty morning in Nov g
smDer. Mr.. Gadford had begun work. a
n / G
'tance SO unusual apparently had its eff 7
ect, for he dropped his hammer and
vent to the door.
81 wonder what's the matter with e
Jerry this morning?" he muttered, as I,
le filed his pipe and squinted up and
Town the long street. First day he's O.
1een off time since he started in.
Somethin's up or down with him, sartin .
never seen a boy so bent on gittin' at
| trade in my life, but he's irwin to r
move with it leetle fast for beginner. =
Some says conceity folks is the kind g
what wins. I wonder if they do? +
never thought nOthin' of mvself- I
lothin' at all: and look at me now 7 !
lon't think there's horse in the state :
can't shoe to the notch, nor any work :
n iron I amt up to. Solid worth is
what takes the lead, but stuckupitive-
less, never guess I'll have to drop ;
his prentice of mine peg OF two. All
hope is they won't be no broken i
zones !" and he turned to his forge with
chuckle. q
Considerably out OF breath, Jerry At. !
aea honpasa Iste the shep, tassed VI !